Michelangelo In Buenos Aires Gives Us Reasons To Tango

A dance around Michelangelo Tango, home of authentic Argentinian dance.

Michelangelo Tango is an ideal enclave in the capital city of Argentina to reconnect with the purest form of tango, one of the country’s most representative symbols. The tango hall is located in San Telmo, one of Buenos Aires‘ oldest and most emblematic neighborhoods, closely linked to the birth of this vibrant dance. The fusion of cultures and nationalities in the area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, gradually gave rise to tango among its people, becoming the tradition it is today.

Michelangelo offers guests a complete experience, with a menu full of gastronomic combinations and signature cocktails, all to accompany its magnificent shows. Its tango and folklore shows are noted for high artistic quality, featuring infectious live music and top-level professional dancers. Specifically, Sofía Orlando and Heber Mallorquin, one of the couples on the team, give us a closer look at their work and passion.

How did your journey with tango start and what attracted you to it in the first place?

Our beginnings in tango emerged during university years, when we were experimenting with other dances. After exploring the feelings and experiences that came during that time, we eventually gravitated towards this dance.

From your point of view, what are the main qualities a good tango dancer should have?

The main qualities of a good dancer are discipline, maturity, and the development of technique. The latter is necessary to free the mind and then focus on the feeling, this makes the movements real and not just for show.

To what extent is there room for improvisation in tango? How can interpretation and technique be combined?

To the extent that one chooses, it’s what makes this dance special: it always stems from improvisation, although sequences are later worked on to bring it to a more stage level. Technique and interpretation must be balanced and go hand in hand to achieve enjoyment; it cannot be just steps or just emotions, it’s a beautiful dance where two people communicate with their bodies, achieving such a level of symbiosis that they become one.

Is there a lot of competition in the tango world?

Yes, there is. It’s not a very large environment, and everyone always strives to do their best and be prepared for different challenges, projects, or auditions where only a few are chosen.

What are the pros and cons of being a tango dancer?

Perhaps the negative is that it’s not a very regularized job, as is often the case with artistic professions. It depends a lot on each specific proposal or workplace, whether everything our profession entails is recognized. Additionally, dancers usually don’t have the stability that other common jobs offer, so there is always uncertainty about the future. The positive aspect, however, is that if you chose this job, it means you are using your vocation, what makes you happy, which is truly a privilege.

What has changed in tango since its beginnings?

Many things, although a big shift occurred when it became academic. Nonetheless, the essence, the most important thing, is still there.

Being an intimate dance for couples, how is the connection between both dancers created?

Tango is a dialogue between two bodies, it doesn’t matter if they know each other, are a couple, or it’s the first time they meet. It’s the connection, the willingness to listen and connect that these two bodies have; sometimes it flows from the first embrace and in other cases there’s no way to understand each other, no matter how hard one tries. It’s not something that can be forced.

What would you say is the key to generating the seduction that emanates from tango?

Showing vulnerability, exposing oneself to the other in a real way. There is nothing truer than that.

Since it’s a traditional dance, how do you see the future of tango in Argentina? Do you think the new generations will continue the legacy?

I have a positive perspective; there are many people who put their hearts into keeping it alive, and there is a lot of youth interested in it. This is part of who we are, it’s in our blood, and as long as Argentina stands, tango will always be alive.